How Do I Clean Tarnished Stainless Steel Cutlery?

Stainless steel cutlery is attractive when properly maintained, but stainless steel cutlery becomes a set of utensils that no one wants to use when the steel begins to tarnish and becomes unattractive. The discoloration is fairly easy to remove, and there are a few commercial cleaning products on the market designed to repair this situation. The problem is, these items are not always as effective as you want them to be, and they often cost too much. Instead, use household products to clean your tarnished stainless steel cutlery.

Clean tarnished silver cutlery with vinegar.

Step 1

Place a large sheet of aluminum foil on the base of a large skillet.

Step 2

Fill the skillet 3/4 full with hot water, adding 1 tsp. each of salt and baking soda.

Step 3

Place the stainless steel cutlery into the skillet, and bring the water to a boil. Let the water boil for 5 minutes.

Step 4

Allow the water to cool, and remove the stainless steel cutlery.

Step 5

Rinse the cutlery under warm tap water and buff each piece dry with a clean cloth.